San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-03-09

none.n Saying which she reared her
head with the dignity of queen and
left Capt. Dalrymple alone to ponder
over the Unforeseen dilemma in which
he found himself placed.
Val awoke the next morning with
dull aching pain at her heart, the cause
of which she only too soon remembered.
OF trouble of any kind she had hitherto
had no experience, and she felt quite
overwhelmed at the dreary prospect be-
fore her should she continue her quar-
rel with Vernon. Why not put an end
to it, she asked herself, and trust him,
as she had been so ready to declare she
could do under any circumstancesp
Then the thought that he had a secret
with Mrs. Maitland, which was I'M
shared by her, obtruded itself, and she
grew obdurate again.
She remained in her room till sum-
moned by the breakfast bell, and then
slipped into a place at table which hid
her from Vernon's sight.
Hubert Dalrymple was of the party.
He was certainly very handsome, with
dark eyes, which wore languid, sleepy
look in them very well suited to his
style.
Breakfast over, he approached Val
and said with smile wonderfully like
Vernon's:
"Come for stroll with me, will your
AS we are so soon to be related, it is
only natural should wish to be better
acquainted with you"
After wandering about for awhile,
Hubert making vain attempts to amuse
Val with his light talk, they seated
themselves on a shady bench, and the
former said without further preface:
what is there wrong between you
and Vermont"
Val flushed crimson. ~ don't under
stand you," she said.
Don't your" answered Hubert in his
lazy tones. ~ should have thought my
meaning pretty clear. I'm not a very
clever fellow, Miss Charters, but it did
not require very bright wits to discover
there was something amiss."
II think it such a pity for people to
fall out about trifles," proceeded HUI
bert, "for, knowing Vernon as 1 do, +
can't believe he can have given you any
real cause for complaint. There's not
better fellow breathing than he; l, as
his brother, ought to be able to give an
opinion on the subject"
Still Val sat silent; in spite of all it
was sweet to her to hear Vernon
praised.
L Ou WOnL De OlIeIueu WIFI me,
hApe, if tell you think you are very
lucky to have won his love-" continued
Mr.. Dalrymple, in no way discOmposed
"Vernon's not like me, you know. l
can't help spooning every pretty girl I
come across, but with him, you are Just
the first woman he has ever loved or
spoken to of love-"
Val turned to him eagerly. "Are you
sure-quite sure?"
Mr.. Dalrymple laid his handsome
head back against the tree and surveyed
her from under his half-clOsed lids with
an expression of amusement. II think
see light at last, he unused; "the lit
tie girl is jealous-I fancy know Of
whom"
'Quite sure" he said aloud; "but
that has not prevented many women
being in love with him. There's GER
tain lady, not dozen miles from here,
who tried very hard to win him."
do you mean Mrs. Maitlandp"
asked Val in low hurried tone.
What makes you guess thatp"
''Because-oh, because l have been
very unhappy through her." said Val,
clasping her hands together with a pa
thetfc little gesture, her gray eyes full
of tears.
"Tell me all about it." responded HUI
bert, tenderly, and to Val's surprise she
found herself detailing her grievance
to this young man, who an hour ago
had been unknown to her.
How deep the little widow is" he
said; "but | see her game. Valerie
you really deserve to know the truth,
especially after confding in me. List
en- to me. A year ago Mrs. Maitland,
reversing the general order of things,
made an offer to Vernon of her hand,
heart, and very ample fortune"
''ImpOssible!" calculated Val.
mot impossible-unusual, if you
like" answered Hubert, dryly
However do you known" asked Val.
because l, by chance, interrupted
the interesting tete-a-tete, and guessed
from the lady's agitation what had TAX
en- place. Wasn't it awkward for
him?" wound up Hubert. IF it had
happened to me should have accepted
her, for l can never refuse woman
anything"
Val caught his hands impetuously
in hers.
"How can 1 thank your" she said, the
happy smiles playing again round her
lips. II was so angry, so miserable, l
did not know what to think, and now
everything is delightful again. Vernon
said should like you, and do, ire
mendously."
Thanks" returned Hubert, laugh
ing. II am glad to be able to return
the compliment"
A few minutes later Vernon, sitting
alone in the library, felt two soft arms
steal round his neck, and Val's sweet
voice said in his ear:
"Can you ever forgive me, dear, for
being such horrid suspicious wretchP
was so wrong, so very wrong, but l
punished myself more than any one."
you have made up your mind to
trust me in spite of appearances, Val?"
he asked.
II must tell you ALL" she whispered;
land don't despise me very much,
dear" And she proceeded to recount
her conversation with Hubert.
Tout cOnlprendre, c'eSt tout pdrdOnner
-eh, Val?" he said with slight smile;
"but there, won't tease you, dear. 1t
was hardly surprising you were vexed,
and wanted to know all; and l think l
need not ask you to keep silent on the
score of what you have heard"
II promise" said Val, feeling in her
newly-recOvered happiness that she
could pardon Mrs. Maitland and all her
misdoings. since it was love for Yer
non which had prompted her to them
Au the Year Round.
Sy|via's Guardian;